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Articles from Jane Cranston | Selfgrowth.com
- Branding Yourself in the Workplace - by Submitted on Apr 29, 2011 from Jane CranstonExecutive coaching clients wanting to enhance their role and impact in their current workplace continuously ask me, “How do I get greater recognition?” “Make sure my boss doesn’t get all of the credit?” “What’s the best way to be found by potential employers and thought leaders in my field?” My ...
Views: 1753 - Bullying in the Workplace--Never Putt with a Driver - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonSound golf advice. I can think of a few applications—fat heads often have trouble with finesse and close-ups; bigger isn’t always better and there is the right tool for almost every task. When I think of applying the idea to challenges in the workplace I am drawn first to bullying. Some time ...
Views: 754 - Career Lessons from Captain "Sully" Sullenberger - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonWatching the news coverage of the commercial airplane’s emergency landing into the river in New York I found myself curious about the captain. Who was he? What did he know? How had he learned it? Was it instinct or training, skill or luck? So what does this have to do with you, your career ...
Views: 1409 - Civility in the Workplace -- Four Ways to Achieve It - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2011 from Jane CranstonThe word civility is surely not new to the language, yet it is not a term you hear spoken every day. It took a “shellacking,” a tea party, and a deadly shooting for a few people to step back and ask “is this really the way ‘we’ want to treat one another?” Of course, most of us, myself included, ...
Views: 2347 - Difficult Conversations – 3 Essential Steps to a Positive Outcome - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2013 from Jane CranstonNo one likes having the difficult conversation whether it is in his or her personal life or at work. Unfortunately they often are essential. What makes the interaction scary is the unpredictability of the response and reaction of the receiver as well as your issues about the topic at ...
Views: 2663 - Do Women Lack Ambition? - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2011 from Jane CranstonHave you recently observed the steam coming out of the ears of a few women over forty? Not sure what’s up and what started it all? Let me clue you in. It’s a reaction to a just published McKinsey & Company report in conjunction (some would say cahoots) with The Wall Street Journal. In the spirit ...
Views: 1858 - First Step to Changing Behavior - by Submitted on Sep 30, 2012 from Jane CranstonI recently had the opportunity to invite a friend and her grandchildren to a local fair. I’ve been going to the event for years and like the predictability and tradition; plus it supports a good cause. The carousel is always in front of the big house, the face painting under the elms, and you ...
Views: 1720 - Five Hiring Mistakes Smart Employers Make - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2012 from Jane CranstonIn good and bad employment times, it seems certain people can locate, attract, and select the best. Whether they’re looking for a new CEO, to fill a line position, or searching out the best childcare worker, some employers seems to get the right results. Why is that? Are they just plain lucky? I ...
Views: 1524 - Four Ways to Turbo Charge Your Resume - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonIf you want your resume to get noticed, open doors and land you the job you want and deserve … 1. State accomplishments - what have you done in past positions that has made the company money, saved them money, found them time, saved them time or brought prestige to the organization or the ...
Views: 962 - Fuel, Focus, and Feedback — Essentials of Team Leadership - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2012 from Jane CranstonWhether you are leading a major initiative, trying to get your team to the next level, or attempting to corral a group of volunteers, there are three important steps every leader needs to apply to ensure a positive outcome and invested participants. They are the 3 Fs — fuel, focus, and ...
Views: 1356 - Gain Time with a 3-Day Tech Rest - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2010 from Jane CranstonYou probably know the work of Matt Richtel, though his name may not be familiar to you. Richtel won the Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting for the New York Times for his series titled “Driven to Distraction.” The series, where he addressed the impact of multitasking, texting, and phoning while ...
Views: 1546 - Getting a Raise in a No Increase Environment - by Submitted on Dec 31, 2011 from Jane CranstonMoney is tight everywhere. Even people doing well are feeling the impact of local, national, and global slowdowns in the economy. That said, it doesn’t necessarily mean no one is getting merit increases, promotions, and salary adjustments. Whether you work for a company that has a very ...
Views: 1708 - Getting Great Employees for Less Money - by Submitted on Dec 31, 2011 from Jane CranstonIt’s just a fact of work life -- not everyone has the same amount of dollars to invest in opportunities or challenges. In today’s economic environment the numbers with less is accelerating and even those with resources appear to be hesitant to spend. This is true especially when it comes to the ...
Views: 1569 - Goal Setting Ideas for 2011 - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2011 from Jane CranstonTime off gave me the opportunity to read and listen to more news and pop culture media than usual. The myriad of suggestions is staggering. I have chosen a few I found interesting and doable. Try some and you will be well ahead of the curve. In 2011 I will: Backup personal data as ...
Views: 1358 - Gratitude is Good for Your Health - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2012 from Jane CranstonI’ve never understood why it is so difficult for some people to say “thank you.” It begs the question, “Are we really grateful?” and, “For what and whom?” And most important, “Can we admit it to ourselves and share it with others?” Recent research by Micheal E McCullough, a professor at the ...
Views: 2147 - Have you put in your 10,000 hours? - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonMalcolm Gladwell made a name for himself by writing three bestselling books “Blink,” “The Tipping Point,” and now “Outliers.” His latest is currently number 5 on the bestseller list. The word outlier refers to “a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from others of the ...
Views: 1641 - How Not to Get Laid Off - Part I - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonWhether you call it laid-off, downsized, or losing a perfectly good position you love, being told you no longer have a job is not fun. While not totally preventable. it is possible to do things, or not do them, to lessen your chances of making the expendable list. Here are some of my ...
Views: 1380 - How Not to Get Laid Off - Part II - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonHaving been on both sides of the layoff table I can tell you with great confidence that few employment decisions are based strictly on contribution or goal attainment. Don’t get me wrong, making money for the firm is important, doing superior work is essential; however, there is that less ...
Views: 1232 - How to Get the Offer - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2012 from Jane CranstonI see it over and over again, a client goes on an interview, makes it past HR (in my book the highest hurdle), is sent up to meet the department head, onto the hiring manager with a stop by the top person, and then no offer. What happened? Ruling out the circumstances beyond your control, ...
Views: 2222 - Increase Your Productivity by Doing Less - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2011 from Jane CranstonWho wouldn’t like to get more done in less time, have excess hours and energy to devote to family, hobbies, and rest? If you looked at the actions and habits of the average worker, you would wonder. We seem to be increasing productivity to levels formerly seen as impossible, lengthening our ...
Views: 1423 - It’s Energy Management, Not Time Management. - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonFor nine consecutive years, info marketing guru Dan Kennedy had been a presenter at the number 1 seminar tour in the US. You only have to be around Dan an hour to observe his certain kind of genius as well as understand that maverick is not an understatement. Despite his eccentric behavior he ...
Views: 1112 - Job Search is Like Dating - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2013 from Jane CranstonI’ve helped people advance their careers, switch jobs, and change employers most of my work life. It is over a year since my husband passed away and recently I’ve decided to test the dating waters. Within weeks of navigating the dating scene it occurred to me that looking for a date and ...
Views: 1457 - Love My Work Hate My Job - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2010 from Jane Cranston“Love my work, hate my job” is the lament of too many people. Since layoffs appear to have reduced in numbers and the workplace seems to be settling into the new normal, people have the luxury of contemplating whether they're happy in the workplace. Being out of work, or even the threat of ...
Views: 5827 - More Career Lessons from Captain Sullenberger - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonWatching the news coverage of the commercial airplane’s emergency landing into the river in New York I found myself curious about the captain. Who was he? What did he know? How had he learned it? Was it instinct or training, skill or luck? So what does this have to do with you, your career ...
Views: 767 - Must I Leave My Company to Advance My Career? - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonToo quickly, and too often the answer given to this question is “yes.” “Of course you have to move to get to the next level, make more money.” “Everyone knows home-growns are paid less.” True? Not necessarily, according to Monika Hamori, professor of Human Resource Management at the IE Business ...
Views: 2722 - Networking -- Myths, Facts and How Tos - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonThere is a myth circulating in the workplace and neighborhoods. It goes something like this “Networking during (fill in the blank, Thanksgiving, Christmas, August, end of quarter, bad weather… ) is a waste of time because no one is around.” Simple logic would tell you that can’t possibly be ...
Views: 1326 - Networking Lessons from a Pro - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonAt its essence, networking is connecting with people. It can be individuals you know, want to know better, or are considering bringing into your sphere. As social beings the behavior is not only normal but instinctual. So why when I put “business” or “career” in front of networking do many of my ...
Views: 1240 - Passed Over For A Job Promotion - 4 Career Management Steps Before You Quit Or Stay At A Job - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonYou just heard the news - you were passed over for the big promotion. Now what should you do? Here are some simple steps that might ease the frustration, give you some insight and help you plan your next career move. Step 1 – Take a deep breath, assess the situation and ask yourself ...
Views: 2665 - Resume Essentials Part 1 - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2010 from Jane CranstonWe will discuss, exclusively, chronological resumes. They are the most common, generally preferred by HR pros, and if you know how to create them, the easiest to write. They’re not well-suited to career changers, people with gaps in work, and possibly recent grads. We all need to remember a ...
Views: 1442 - Resume Essentials Part 2 - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2010 from Jane CranstonHere is the second part of “Resume Essentials.” In this section, we’ll discuss some of the nuances of a resume and how it can attract the right people to you and your work history. Brand Names: Everyone likes the familiar, so if you’ve worked with an organization that has high recognition, ...
Views: 1337 - Save Time -- Deal with NUTs - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2010 from Jane CranstonWhen I say NUTs I am not referring to some of the crazies my clients tell me are hanging around their workplace. I mean Nagging Unfinished Tasks. You know what I’m talking about, those things you are going to file (electronically or physically), the calls you should make, the networking you ...
Views: 1197 - Social Networking for Job Search Success - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonSocial Networking gets your job search noticed When I speak of social networking I am referring primarily to Facebook.com (growing the fastest) LinkedIn.com (I call it the Facebook.com of business), My Space.com (huge globally) and Twitter.com (getting the most buzz). Not to say there are ...
Views: 739 - Taking a Part-Time Vacation - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2010 from Jane CranstonAre you envious of people who can go on vacation and not give work, home, or other obligations a thought? I use to be but then decided it really wasn’t the right mindset for me. As many of you know, I am an advocate of “the blended life” (to read more take a look at my past article on the ...
Views: 2474 - Taking Control of Office Clutter - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2012 from Jane CranstonI was in the Container Store watching what seemed like hundreds of people buying all sorts of plastic containers to put their “stuff” in. It got me thinking about the types of clutter we have, particularly in the workplace. While I don't, nor do my executive coaching clients, partake in the ...
Views: 1509 - Team Leardership And Your Career Development Strategy - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonIf the 80s was the decade of the manager (remember The One-Minute Manager?), and the 90s focused on leaders (sometimes more like celebrities), the 00s is the time of team leadership. No longer are companies relying on a single person to drive the vision. The risks are too high, the talent ...
Views: 643 - Three Essential Qualities of a Great Supervisor - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2012 from Jane CranstonWe’ve all had our share of poor or mediocre bosses, but what qualities do most great supervisors seem to have? I would argue three of the essentials are transparency, flexibility, and leadership. Here’s what they look like in action. Transparency: A tremendous amount of workplace time is ...
Views: 2166 - Top 4 Resume Writing Mistakes Smart People Make - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonTop 4 Resume Writing Mistakes Smart People Make (and how to avoid them) 1. Underselling Accomplishments. You would be amazed how many people either forget or minimize their achievements. Some managers are too quick to give, rather than take credit, and often couch their successes in ...
Views: 732 - Validation--Getting and Giving it at Work - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonI’ve been thinking about, and sharing with my executive coaching clients, the idea of validation. What I mean is the need of almost all of us to be told, in word or reaction, that who we are and what we contribute is relevant, valuable, and special. People on the job interview circuit ...
Views: 1532 - Watch, Wait, and Imitate: What I Learned from a Person with Asperger’s - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2011 from Jane CranstonDiseases, disorders, and conditions seem to go in and out of public favor. Not so long ago everyone seemed to have dyslexia, and then it was ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder). Charlie Sheehan put mania back on the radar. With the widespread success of the movie “Social Media,” ...
Views: 2724 - What Do Employees Want? - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonI came upon a survey by Universum, a global employer branding company. They asked more than 65,000 college students to list what they considered to be the top 250 employers. No surprise Google ranked #1. Consulting companies such as McKinsey, Bain, and Boston Consulting were high on the list as ...
Views: 1739 - What is the Career Competitive Edge? - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonHow does a company, firm, or individual determine if they have, want, or are striving toward the competitive edge? Questioning “what is professional success?” is a good first step. For many, the easy answer is money and status. But, when these are attained (or lost) it is surprising how ethereal ...
Views: 926 - What to Do When an Employee Says, "I Quit!" - by Submitted on Mar 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonTurnover, voluntary or forced, is part of the workplace cycle. As in nature, some changes take place a leaf at a time while in other instances a hurricane performs the serious pruning. This article addresses some things you should consider when an employee enters your office and says, “I ...
Views: 1755 - What to Say to a Grieving Person - by Submitted on Mar 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonWhen a loved one, friend, neighbor, or co-worker has a loss, most people feel compelled to say something. The question is “what?” Having lost some very important people in my life as well as attempted to console friends and colleagues who have had to deal with death, here are my suggestions ...
Views: 1547 - When is Social Networking Too Personal? Career Coaches Tips and Advice - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2010 from Jane CranstonPeople who are afraid to speak in public think nothing of writing everything about them self on line either in blogs, personal web sites, through social networking or e-mail. You could buy a billboard in Times Square and fewer people would have access to your information than if you posted on ...
Views: 692 - Who’s Stealing My Energy? - by Submitted on May 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonThe April 2013 issue of Inc. features Tim Ferriss, the author who brought us “The 4-Hour Workweek” and other productivity books, blogs, and seminars. Ferriss’ 80/20 rule says that “eighty percent of one’s productivity comes from 20% of one’s efforts and likewise 80% of your wasted time comes ...
Views: 1575 - Why Performance Appraisals are Essential - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonAbout eight years into my first career (as many of you know I’ve had a few), I ranked high enough to have access to files. As any good snooping executive would do, I looked at my folder. To my surprise there was almost nothing in it. Okay, yes, there was the usual tax forms, my original ...
Views: 1482 - Your Conflict Handling Toolbox - by Submitted on Jun 26, 2013 from Jane CranstonConstructive conflict is an essential part of any team, group, or partnership dynamic. If people do not disagree or come to the table with a variety of perspectives and their unique set of values, battles would eschew, new ideas would not flourish, and creativity would be stifled. When ...
Views: 1417 - Your Future-Focused Resume - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2013 from Jane CranstonAs most of you know, I’m a strong advocate of everyone having an updated resume and bio. It prevents you from being placed in the embarrassing situation of being asked to “shoot me over your current resume” and having to say you don’t have one or lying and scrambling to create something. The ...
Views: 1906 - Your Work Vacation Strategy - by Submitted on Aug 28, 2013 from Jane CranstonMy vacation strategy! I can hear the cries already, “I have to have a strategy for vacation as well? Isn’t a career strategy, a life plan and an investment direction enough?” I’ll say “maybe” but mean “no.” While I have written much about the value and importance of work, I am a devout ...
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